Iona College and the Board of Trustees hosted the 2018 Scholarship Award Gala at the Cipriano 42nd Street on April 13, 2018.

The evening included a special presentation of the 2018 Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award to David Pope and the Generoso Pope Foundation. Past recipients of the Blessed Edmund Rice Award include the Honorable Raymond Kelly, Mariano Rivera, and His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

During David’s acceptance speech, he explained he received a phone call that day that the college almost hit their goal of raising one million dollars, but needed help to hit that mark. David smiled and announced “We are going to put you over that mark of a million dollars.” After receiving a standing ovation, David went on to say, “It would be my honor if you accepted that this year, we are going to create an endowed scholarship in the Foundation’s name at Iona College.”

David concluded by saying Iona is “a special place, a special home, and a special college.” The Generoso Pope Foundation and Board of Trustees are proud to continue efforts of aiding financial aid to deserving students.